Exercising health device



1951 v. E. PRUlTT, 5R I ,7

EXERCISING HEALTH DEVICE Filed Sept. 25, 1948 .3.S hee\s-Sheet 1 Fig.3.

Vesfus E. Pruitt 5r.

. INVEN fox.

1951 v. E. PRUITT, SR

EXERCISING HEALTH DEVICE 3 sh eefcs-s he et 2 Filed Sept. 23, 1948 I I I I I I l 4 I I I u VesfUs E. Pruitt; 5/.

IN V EN TOR.

Patented Oct. 16,, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,571,757 EXERCISING HEALTH DEVICE Vestus E. Pruitt, Sr., Hobbs, N. Mex.

Application September 23, 1948, Serial No. 50,783

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a device for use in beauty parlors, salons and in like health and beauty establishments and has for its primary object to provide an exercising device for removing excess fat from the body and for exercising the body to remove circulatory disturbances, and strengthen the muscles and the nervous system, the patient being exercised while in a resting prone position.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an exercising table, which is equipped with a dryer unit for conveying heated air currents over the body of a person lying on the table, and, especially, over the head of a person so that the table can be employed in a dual function, as a hair dryer and as an exerciser. Another important object of this invention is to provide a combination exercising table and hair dryer unit, which are secured together for the pleasure and convenience of the patient.

Paralleling these objects, it is the aim of this invention to provide a vibrating exercising bed, having a relatively rigid extension, which will support the shoulders and head of a patient lying prone on the bed and will also serve to detachably support a dryer unit.

A meritorious feature of this invention resides in the means provided for adjusting an end extension of the exercising bed, the extensions being adjustable to accommodate various dryer units, such as those supported on a pedestal stand or attached to the end extension,

These and ancillary objects and other meritorious features to become more fully apparent upon a perusal of the following description are attained by this invention, preferred embodiments of which are set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the longitudinal plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the means provided for adjusting the end extension relative to the frame, carrying the exerciser bed;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the dryer unit;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1'l of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a sectionalview showing a modified head-clamping attaching device.

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 8; and,

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view taken on the plane of line |6I0 and looking in the direction of the arrows of Figure 9.

Attention is now directed to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, wherein the reference character I!) generally designates this invention, which comprises a main frame [2, formed from a pair of longitudinally extending parallel side panels 14 and I6, having their opposite ends connected by a pair of transverse slats I8 and 26. Suitably secured to the inner surface of the side panels l4 and I6 are a pair of supporting bars 22 and 24. The side panel I2 is secured at its opposite ends by a bolt assembly or the like securing means 25 to a pair of standards 28 and 30. In a similar fashion, the opposed side panel "5 is secured to the standards 32 and 34.

Detachably seated on the supporting bars 22 and 24 is a resilient supporting element or mattress cushion 36, which comprises a suitable filler material 38 having a rubber, canvas or plastic cover 40 which is secured to the underside of a longitudinal supporting board 42, as seen in Figure 3.

Extending outwardly from one end of the frame I2 is a' rigid extension frame 46, which is separate from the frame I 2 and is adapted to support the feet of a person lying on the cushion 36. The extension frame 46 comprises a pair of opposed side panels 48, which are secured at one end by a bolt assembly or similar conventional means 50 to the inner surface of the standards 28 and 34. The opposing side panels converge inwardly and are secured at their outer end by a transverse slat 52. The extension frame 46 supports a cushion member 54, which is formed with inwardly tapering sides so as to terminate in a reduced end, which is mounted on the transverse slot 52. In order to compensate for the inwardly tapering sides of the end extension, the upper portions of the standards 28 and 34 have a bevelled inner surface, so that the converging side walls of the extension frame 48 and the straight panels l4 and I 6 of the main frame l2 may be conveniently secured to the standards.

A supporting arm or bracket 58 extends inwardly from the bar 22 at the medial portion of the frame 12, the arm being transversely disposed with respect to the frame. A conventional motor 60 is mounted in an inverted position on the arm 56 and has a conventional driving shaft 62. An eccentric cam 64 is secured on the extending portion of the shaft 62 and is adapted to engage the board 42 and vibrate the mattress cushion 38. For adjustment purposes, to adjust the amplitude of vibration imparted to the mattress cushion 36, a threaded stud or bolt 66 extends radially from the cam 84 and is adjustably secured therein by a locking nut 88. Thus, the bolt or stud 68 constitutes the engaging member, which moves against the board 42 activated in said movement by the eccentric cam 64. An adjustment of the stud or bolt 85 inwardly or outwardly with respect to the cam will produce a corresponding amplitude of vibration in-the mattress cushion 38. Extending outwardly from the opposite end of the main frame is a relatively" rigid head and shoulder supporting frame I2, which comprises a pair of opposed arcuately formed side panels I joined bytranSverse ribs 16, I8 and 80. An arcuatetop panel v82issupported on the upper edges of the ribs, as seenin Figure 2. The areuately configured supporting panel 82 has seated thereon a cushion 84 of similar configuration.

Suitable means is provided for adjusting the hea-dvsupporting frame 52 relative to the main frame I2, and in this respect, attention isdirected to Figures 2 and .4 of the drawings. As

seen therein, the.opposing side panels I4 of the arcuatehead framel'Z areprovided with extending sections .86 which are formed with a V- shaped groove or recess 88 in the upper edges thereof,.the-recessbeing provided to enable the frame tobe disposed in a lowered position in a plane common with the main supporting frame.

Thus,.-the V-shaped notches enable the frame I2 to movedownwardlyand avoid abutting against the end .portion of the main frame. A pair of .similar plates .80 and 92 are secured to the oppositesides of the offset portion-86 by securing 'means. 94. The platesareformedwith an 'arcuate groove 86, which extends transversely through the ofisetportion of the side panels.

,Means iscarried by the standards 30 and 32 .engageableadjustablyin the plates 80 and 82 and through the offset portion for-adjusting the position of the end frame I2 and for locking the same in the adjusted position. In this respect, a pair of plates 98 are secured by screws L00 to the outer surface of the standards and .are formed with an aperture I02 and an aperture I04, the last -named aperture having laterally extending locking grooves or recesses I08 disposed circumjacent thereto. A conventional headed bolt I08 is transversely inserted through the arcuate guide slot 96 and through the aperture I02, the threaded shank thereof being threadedly engaged bya wingnut H0, the same being disposed on theplate 98. A locking stud H2, having aheadportion I I4 provided with laterally extending triangular wings or flanges-I I6 is adapted to be ,transverselydisposed through the aperture I04, with the extending wings thereof received in the recesses I06 in the plate 98. Resilient means I I8 is received on the shank of the stud and isretainedthereon between the head I I4 and a cotter pin I20 transversely disposed through an aperture I22 in the-opposite end of the stud. Ofcourse-the stud is inserted through a pair of spaced adjustment openings 124 and I26 formed through the plates 90 and 92 and transversely disposed through the oifset portion and side panels to positively retain the extending tip or endof the stud in the openings I24 and I26 and thereby seat the locking flanges in the recesses I04 and I08. In this respect, a stop plate or washer I28 is received on the shank of the stud and secured thereon by the cotter pin I20 so as by the clamping arm and the cylindrical head of the dryer is'vertically adjusted to a similar I plane and is moved into the hood I22 so that the heated air currents are directed onto the head of a person lying on the bed and, also, over the body of the person, if desired. The hood I32 is employed to'focus the heat currents in the desired path, and,.in this respect, it is to be noted in Figure 6 that the hood has a cylindrical opening I38 which is formed by bending a circular strip of material, such as aluminum or the like, upon itself to form ran.- annular ring, substantially U -shaped 'incross section. =The strip of material I38 is adapted'to clampingly receivethe inwardly-directed endof the body portion ofthe cowl, as seen in-Figure 9. In thisrespect, it is to be noted that the cowl includes an inner cylindrical section and an outer concentrically disposed cylindrical portion I42, which extends beyond-the section I40. Thus, the cylindrical-inner portion directed from the'dryer head. In this respect, it

.is to-be notedin Figure 6 that the heat-currents are directed outwardly, as shown-by the directional markers, and the inner and-outer concentrically disposed sections of the cowl prevent wide disbursement of the heated air-currents bylimit- .ing the outward path of the air currents.

For the-convenience-ofza perscnlying'on the bed, a head rest I44 is provided and is substantially U-shaped, having depending supporting sections I46 which are bolted, as at I48, to the outer surface-of the rib -80. The head rest'is flo51gned with a'suitable protective cushion cover,

Another embodiment of this invention is shown in Figures 8-10, whereinit is to be noted that the dryer I30 is detachably secured to the end rib 80. In this embodiment, the hood'or'cowl 122, similar to that aforedescribed, is supported on the frame by forming a plurality of circumferentially disposed minoropenings I52 in the cowl and inserting thesame onto spring clips .I-54 secured on the rib. Thus, the cowl or hood is slipped into the resilient clips or clamps and thereby supported on the frame. The dryer unit I30 has a laterally bent standard E80, which .is slippedinto a clamp I62 formed on the rib'80, as seen in Figure. 10. Thus, the dryer is adjustable relative to the cowl.

Of course, the cowl I32, shown in Figure 2, is suitably clamped onto the dryer head, whereas the cowl shown in Figure 10 is clamped onto the rib'80 and thedryer is associated directly with the head frame '12.

It is 'to'be apparent that while a conventional dryerunit'has been shown and described, a heat lamp, ultra-violet lamp or the like can be employed with'the supporting structure above-described so as to cast their rays upon the body of a patient lying upon the bed.

Patients employing the exercising bed would be disposed in a prone position on the cushion 36 with their heads and shoulders supported on the cushion 82 in a raised position. The cushion 36 would be vibrated through the eccentric cam and actuating stud, which would intermittently raise and lower the cushion 36. At the same time, the dryer units would produce heated air currents, which would be conveyed by the cowl or hood over the head of the person.

For the convenience of a patient, lamps I64 may be disposed on the sides of the cowl to direct illuminating rays downwardly so that a patient may read during the exercising and drying periods.

Thus, it can be seen that there has been provided a novel and improved exercising device, which is adapted to exercise the body of a patient, without any physical exertion or movement on the part of the patient and which is employable in a dual capacity.

Having described the invention, what isclaimed as new is:

1. An exercising apparatus comprising a frame, a mattress cushion horizontally supported on the frame, a motor carried by the frame and extending under the mattress cushion, an eccentric operatively carried by said motor, means adjustably secured to the eccentric for engaging and selectively raising and lowering the mattress cushion off and on to the frame, a relatively rigid extension on one end of said frame, a cushioned member retained in said extension, and means for selectively adjusting the extension in a horizontal and raised position, said last mentioned means including adjustable brackets connected between said frame and said extension, and means for locking said extension in a desired position relative to said frame.

2. An exercising apparatus comprising a frame, a mattress cushion horizontallysupported 6 on the frame, a motor carried by the frame and extending under the mattress cushion, an eccentric operatively carried by said motor, means adjustably secured to the eccentric for engaging and selectively raising and lowering the mattress cushion ofi and on to the frame, a relatively rigid extension on one end of said frame, a cushioned member retained in said extension, and means for selectively adjusting the extension in a horizontal and raised position, said last mentioned means including adjustable brackets connected betweensaid frame and said extension, and means for locking said extension in a desired position relative to said frame, said locking means adjustably secured to said eccentric comprising screw means threadedly secured to said eccentric to determine the amplitude of the vibration, and a nut for locking said screw means in a desired position threadedly engaged on said screw means.

VESTUS E. PRUITT, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

